tourgee



(No Model.)- 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

TOURGEE 8: L. DE F. JENNINGS. BRIDLB AND BRIDLE ATTACHMENT.

Patented Nov. 3, 1885.

N. PETERs. Phnto-Lllhngnpher, Washington, D. c.

(No Model.) 2 SheetsSheet 2.

A. W. TOURGEB & L. DE P. JENNINGS. BRIDLE AND BRIDLE ATTACHMENT.

No. 329,508. Patented Nov. 3, 1885.

N P TERS. Phawynm m m, wman mn. o4;

1 FFTCEQ ATENT ALBION V. TOURGEE AND LINSON DE F. JENNINGS, F MAYVILLE, NEXV YORK, ASSIGNORS TO SAID JENNINGS AND S. E. KILBOURNE, OF SAME PLACE.

BRIDLE AND BRIDLE ATTACHMENT.

SPECIFICATIGN forming part of Letters Patent No. 329,508, dated November 3, 1885.

Se1ialN0.159,400. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, ALBION W. TOURGEE and LINsoN DE FORREST J ENNINGs, citizens of the United States, residing at Mayville, in

the county of Chautauqua and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Bridles and Attachments; and we do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invenlO tion, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings,aud t0 the letters and figures of reference marked thereon, which form a I 5 part of this specification.

Our invention relates to improvements in bridles and their attachments, the object being to decrease the weight and cost and increase the efficiency of the ordinary bridle.

This is accomplished by certain changes and appliances by which greater control is secured over the draft-animal, his movements more readily and certainly directed, danger from fright or ill temper avoided, and the power of the driver over the d raft-animal very greatly increased; and our improvements consist of certain novel and radical changes in the form and character of the bridle itself, in specific attachments to the blinkers and the method 0 by which said attachments are operated, in the new and improved bit and meansby which the same is operated, in reins or lines of a peculiar construction, and in the method by which force is transmitted along them to the 5 various attachments of the bridle, all as will be hereinafter fully described, and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 represents a perspective view of our improve- 0 ments, and Figs. 2 to G enlarged detail views of the same.

Similar letters of reference indicate like parts in the several figures.

Our invention may be described as a bridle of the ordinary form, consisting of a side or cheek strap extending over the top of the head behind the ears and from ring to ring of the bit, which it supports in position. The essential attachments of this side or cheek 5o strap consist of a browband of the ordinary form and character, and a throat-latch consisting of one imperforate strap attaching to the cheek and brow straps by a triplicate buckle or clasp, as showniu the accompanying drawings.

in carrying out our invention the side or cheek straps, A, are composed of one imperfora-te strap of leather or other narrow flexible material strengthened throughout almost its entire extent by a metallic lining, a, turned over upon it to serve both to retain it in shape and to act as an ornamental beading upon the edges.

The blinkers B are composed of sheet metal struck up in the desired shape, and are at- 6 tached to the side or check straps, A, by means of metallic spring-clasps b, as shown. These blinkers B are preferably made adjustable within certain limits upon the side or check straps, and are capable of being readily removed therefrom or replaced at pleasure. Inside of each of the blinkers Bis arranged a metal frame, 0, of the same general shape and of proper size, which is held firmly against the blinker by a coiled-wire spring, 0, as shown. Upon this metal frame is stretched a dark cloth or fabric, d, sufficiently thick to be impervious to light, and to said frame is attached the one end of a wire, 6, which passes through apeculiarly-constructed 8O flexible tube, f, running through the lower edge of the blinkers, across the horses nose, and down to the bit-ring 9 upon the opposite side, to which it is attached, serving at once as a proper direction for said wire and as the 8 ordinary nose-band of the bridle, as shown in Fig. 1. Extending through this flexible tube fis the said wire 6, which is attached to the movable cloth-covered frame 0 on the inside of the blinker at one end, and connected at its 0 opposite end, or at the bit-ring g, by a hook or other appropriate device with another wire,

0, extending .in a similar manner through a rein of peculiar construction, as will be hereinafter fully dcscribcdfback to a hook, button, or slide, 2', within easy reach of the drivers hand.

The purpose and operation of the blinder O is as follows: In case a horse from fright or ill-temper is likely to become unmanageable, 10: the driver quickly reaches forward and seizes the button, loop, or slider upon his rein, and,

pulling upon the wire running through the same, throwsthe blinder forward against and across the eyes, so as to effectually blindfold the animal for any period that the driver may see fit. At the end of suchperiod he merely relaxes his hold upon the button, and by the force of the coiled spring 0, attached to the blinder, it flies back to its proper place on the inside of the blinker. The bit D resembles the ordinarygag-bit, in that it is curved more or less sharply in the middle for the purpose of acting against the roofof the horses mouth, thereby placing him more thoroughly within the control of the driver. It differs, however, from the ordinary curb, in that the rectangular bend It extends downward and outward in the mouth of the horse, rather than upward and inward, and in that the operating-levers Zextend upward rather than downward and act with the wire 6 passing through the peculiarly-constructed rein to'the button or hook z'within reach of the drivers hand, as described, in the operation of the blinder, instead of requiringaseparate and independent set'of reins.

The operation of this bit may be described as follows: At ordinary times the horse will be controlled with the reins attached 'to therings 9; but in case it becomes desirable to check the horses speed, or it becomes difficult to control his movements by the ordinary means, force is applied through the wire 6 by means of the button or slide 2', before described, within reach of the drivers hand, and through that to the levers Z, by means of which the perpendicular bend it is thrown upward against the horses mouth, making it impossible for him to hold the bit with his teeth, or effectually resist the drivers power. The said bit may be struck out of one or more pieces of metal; but preferably of one piece bent into the required shape iuclosing the rings The wires 6 e, by which tractile force is applied to the bit, and by which also the blinders are intended to be operated, consists preferably of several parallel strands loosely inclosed within the new and improved rein, to be hereinafter described. It may, however, consist of a single ply of annealed wire or of any sort of cord calculated to work smoothly and readily through the rein and its attachments, said rein being attached to the bit of the bridle by a new and improved snap-hook, E,which consists ofa double spring-wire hook acting automatically and attached to the metal screwcap F. holding the end of the improved circular rein. Its merits are strength, lightness, and security of grip. It, is made preferably from a single piece of wire bent intothe form shown in the drawings. The end of the improved rein is held by said cylindrical metal cap F, which is of a conical shape, containing a screw-thread either solid therewith or formed ofa conical coiled wire fitting its inner surface and affixed rigidly thereto. This cap has a slot, 0, in one end to receive and hold in place the snap-hook E, as also permitting of the free action of the wires e 6 through the same.

Our improved rein G consists of two parts,- one being a hollow, flexible, and cylindrical core, 19, of sufficient size to permit of the free action of the flexible wire or wires therein, and ,by means'of which the bit and blinkers are operated. This core 9 is made preferably of close coiled wire of sufficient size to retain its cylindrical form under any reasonable amount of pressure that may be applied, and is incased within a suitable covering ofleather or other strong flexible fabric, as shown.

It will be readily apparent that this construction may be applied to other portions of the harness, and it is our intention so to do, as well as its application for any similar purpose to which it may be adapted. The Wire or wires 6 e, which extend through the circular portion of the rein, as above described, are designed to pass under wire loops 8, upon the flat or webbed portion G in the ordinary reins, until it comes within easy reach of the drivers hand. At this point the hook or slider is attached to the end of the wire or wires for operating the same, as shown.

In our improved rein, which is preferably cylindrical throughout its entire extent, the same results may be effected by a sliding button or ring encircling the rein and acting freely upon it.

In constructing our completebridle we preferably employ a triplicate clasp or buckle, H, (described in a separate application for patent already made by us,) upon each side of said bridle, and which is adapted to secure the side or cheek straps, the brow'piece J, and the throat-latch K in their respective positions, as fully shown in the drawings. WVealso employ a compound clasp or buckle, I, of the same general character referred to, in attaching the nose piece or straps to the side or check straps and to the bit D, as shown.

Having thus described our invention. what we claim as new and useful is- 1. The herein-described bridle, consisting of the side or check straps, A, formed as described, and provided with the adjustable blinkers B, having blinders O, the bit D, pro- IIS vided with bend k and levers Z, the flexible rein G, having wires 6 e extending through the same, brow-piece J, throat-latch K, and compound buckles H and I, all substantially as and for the purpose specified.

2. The side or cheek straps, A, formed as described and provided with the metallic blinkers B, adjust-ably connected thereto, in combination with the blinders 0, formed as described and provided with the coiled spring 0, wire 0, flexible tube f, bit D, and hollow cylindrical rein G, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

3. The hinged frame 0, secured to the metallic blinker B and provided with a covering, d, of textile material, coiled spring 1', flexible wire 6, and flexible tube f, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

4. The bit D, formed, as described, with rectangular bend it and levers Z, in combination with the wires 6 e, rein G, and side or cheek straps, A, substantially as specified.

5. The rein G, formed of a hollow, flexible, and cylindrical core, p, having a leather or other suitable covering, substantially as specified.

6. The rein G, formed of a hollow, flexible, and cylindrical core, 1), having a leather or other suitable covering and provided with the screw-cap F, snap-hook E, wires e e, and hook or slide i, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

7. The metallic screw-cap F, provided with ALBION W. TOURGEE. LINSON DE F. JENNINGS.

WVitnesses:

T. D. BALDWIN, J. B. DAVIS. 

